Socially tolerant and fiscally responsible (that is his own description). Decent guy, but still a GOPer. legal adviser to Mitt Romney as governor and later to Americans Elect.

Unknown outside of his district, but not a Tea Party guy, so could attract some people that are wary of Lynch's anti-choice stance, or of Markey's liberal positions.

He has announced a press conference on Tuesday, which may be either to announce he will run or that he will not run but wants to say it more elegantly than Brown. Who knows.

The real question is what it will take to get liberal behind Markey.

The desire to not allow the Republicans to seat another nut to the Senate.

In 2011, when Liz Warren was deciding to run, there were a ton of people clamoring she should run. Markey is just as liberal as her, a leader in many domains, and people seem just not to care. Frankly, this worries me. Dan Winslow will be just as dangerous as Scott Brown. We need people to be ready.

I doubt it but that the latest floater.